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Dementia with Lewy bodies
This is caused by clumps of protein that build up in the brain the clumps are called Lewy bodies
These clumps are also found in people suffering with Parkinson's they build up in an area of your brain that is responsible for thinking, your vision and your muscle movement. it is thought that these Proteins ( clumps) affect the signals between brain cells so that messages to different parts of your brain break down.
This is rare in people under the age of 65.
There is I'm afraid to say no cure at the moment for this Disease but there are medications that can help it will not stop the disease from worsening but may help the symptoms some of these are
Donepezil
Rivastigmine
Galantamine
These are called inhibitors and may help with confusion ,hallucinations and sleep.
Symptoms for this disease are usually gradual over several years and get worse as time goes on.
Symptoms
speech
slow movement
seeing and hearing things that aren't there
memory loss
tremors
confusion
fainting
difficulty swallowing
depression
sleep disturbance
Life expectancy from diagnosis is around 5-7 years
Peoples symptoms for this disease can switch on and off in seconds one minute they are hallucinating and the next they are back in the room.
Hallucinations are very real to the person they may hear sounds be able to smell, touch and of course visually see what is not there.
When i worked in a care home I witnessed 2 ladies sitting at the table both flicking ants of with there napkins somehow they where sharing the same hallucinations and it is very important when caring for someone that this is there reality.
Another time i stayed over at a ladies house and she talked to her husband all night he had died several years ago .
All night she was talking to him and begging me to make him a cup of tea in the end i did and very soon after she settled .
So as I always say
to care for someone with dementia you must step out of your reality and into there's and always remember to take time for your self the journey ahead is not an easy one.
Marina Barker
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA
This is a rare form of Dementia caused by abnormal clumps of proteins developing in the brain cells
these normally develop in the front and sides of the brain these are the parts of the brain that control language ,behavior and the ability to organize or plan anything .
around 1 in 8 people who get this condition will have relatives also affected by the same condition.
Other names for this are
Picks disease
frontal dementia
semantic dementia primary progressive aphasia
Symptoms
Personality changes
acting inappropriately
selfishness
unsympathetic
neglecting personal hygiene
over eating
lack of motivation
Language problems forgetting words calling a dog a sheep etc.
other symptoms that may occur
stiff movements difficulty swallowing
incontinence
The following medications are sometimes given
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics rarely used but can help to control severely challenging behavior
There is much more information on the NHS WEBSITE
Marina Barker
HALLUCINATIONS
Hallucinations are due to changes in the brain more commonly seen in people suffering with
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Parkinsons disease Dementia
Vascular Dementia
Alzheimer's
What are the causes of Hallucinations' lots of things apparently
fever
infection
strokes
pneumonia
inflammation
not forgetting the dreaded Urinary infection
The person can see, smell, hear and even feel something they may see spiders one lady I cared for insisted there were snakes at her door and on another occasion I witnessed 2 ladies sitting at the dining table flicking there serviettes with great gusto ,when I finally managed to find out what was going on they both said there where ants all over the table is it possible to have a joint hallucination?
They may have conversations with people that are not there!
Not all hallucinations are disturbing to the person having them
It is a natural instinct to tell someone what they are seeing is not there
But in my opinion what they are seeing is as real as what we are seeing so who are we to argue.
Obviously if they are becoming violent because of what they're seeing that is a different kettle of fish and you need to seek medical help
Offer them reassurance
Speak calmly were quite safe
Hold their hand Make tea ,I always distract with tea everyone loves a cuppa
A well-lit room is good people often see things lurking where there are shadows
go for a walk
put on some gentle music
Most important don't argue with the person you will never get anywhere.
Marina Barker
For more information go to NHS website
At the beginning
When you are at the beginning of the Dementia journey you will no doubt feel overwhelmed ,angry ,frustrated ,frightened and hurt that your loved one has this horrible disease.
In my humble opinion gather as much knowledge as you possibly can .
Start to put things into place it can be a long and winding road and i have often seen people wait too long and end up running round like headless chickens and making themselves ill.
Sort out things like
Doctors/Medication
Prescription deliveries
The diagnosis and what to expect
power of attorney
Social workers
Risk assessments for trips and falls
What future care are you entitled to
Day centers in your area
Care Companys
Personal alarms
Local support groups
Most importantly time out for yourself you can't care for someone if you are physically and mentally exhausted
........
24 HOUR PERSONAL ALARM SYSTEM
Some support services
Dementia UK
Age concern
Alzheimer's Society
NHS
Teepa snow on YouTube
BOOKS
Where memories go
Still Alice
The language of kindness
Somebody I used to know
I hope some of this will help if only a little.
Marina Barker
SEPSIS
Adult Sepsis
This is a life threatening disease sometimes called Septicemia or blood poisoning
This happens when your immune system over reacts to an infection it will then start to damage your internal organs and body tissue .
Sepsis can be hard to spot as it is sometimes not unlike the flu .
You cant catch Sepsis from another person it is not there for contagious .
SYMPTOMS
slurred speech
diarrhoea
nausea
vomitting
confusion
extreme shivering
muscle pain
severe breathlessness
mottled or discolored skin skin
not passing urine
Sepsis needs treatment straight away so if you think some one you are caring for has it do not hesitate to ring the emergency services if not treated straight away a person may go into septic shock extremely dangerous as your organs will start to fail
you may then need to be put on a ventilator in intensive care and or surgery to remove infection.
you will be given antibiotics straight away and you may be in hospital for several weeks.
People do recover mostly from Sepsis but you can be left for months or even years with physical and emotional symptoms this is called
Post-Sepsis Syndrome
Symptoms feeling tired and weak
no appetite
ill more often than before mood swings
Anxiety
depression
nightmares
flashbacks
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
For more information go to the NHS website
Please do call emergency services if you are not sure better to be safe than sorry
Marina Barker
Fatal Familial Insomnia
Fatal familial insomnia is a very rare genetic degenerative disorder it is caused by an abnormal variant in the protein gene
A person with this disorder will normally live between 12 to 18 months however it has been known for people to live for up to 7 years.
The onset of this disease normally occurs between the ages of 32-62 years although it has occurred in some people earlier on in life
this disease can present itself as dementia as the person becomes more and more confused
unfortunately there is no cure and there doesn't seem to be any treatment although it seems sleep medications are given and a drug called Klonopin to treat muscle spasms
Symptoms
trouble sleeping
vivid dreams
hallucination's can occur
trouble staying asleep
muscle twitching and spasms or Parkinson's kike symptoms
loss of appetite
deteriorating cognitive and mental function
speech problems
excessive sweating
swallowing
unexplained weight loss
fever
Marina Barker
The Cerebellum
The Cerebellum can be found behind the top part of the brain stem.
The cerebellum gets information from sensory systems the spinal cord and other parts of the brain and then regulates movements.
It controls walking ,talking ,coordination, balance and eye movements
it is a small part of the brain but has over 80% of the brains Neurons .
Neurons are cells that transmit information to each other by sending electrical signals .
If the Cerebellum is damaged it might lead to lack of balance ,slower movements and shaking
T keep healthy Cerebellum exercise regularly, limit alcohol and smoking
eat a well balanced diet full of leafy greens such as
kale
broccoli
oily fish
salmon
tuna
flaxseeds
avocado's
walnuts
berries
tea
coffee
Marina Barker
Walking with purpose
I'm sure you have heard the term wandering ,its also known as walking with purpose .
We tend to think that this is part of the dementia stating that the person wont settle
We need to stop and think maybe they are reliving an old memory
does it happen at a certain time of day?
If a person has gone back to when there children were small they may feel the need to pick them up from school.
They could be looking for someone who normally came at that time.
I cared for a lady and every tea time she would pace up and down the corridor looking out of the window getting more and more anxious ,this was the time her husband used to come home.
All you can do is defer the situation by maybe saying I think he is working late tonight lets go for a cup of tea while we wait and then you can tell me all about him.
Its a small lie but rather that than cause distress by telling her every day he died 10 years ago.
The person concerned might just be bored.
Maybe they actually just want to walk if that's the case assess the risks are they ok to go alone
will they come to harm on roads etc.
will they fall have they been assessed for walking aids.
each person is totally different and just because the word dementia has come into the equation people do not just give up and sit in a chair for the rest of there lives.
So let them walk they are walking with a purpose.
Marina Barker
Personality and Dementia
I have met 100s of people with Dementia and not one person is the same .
It stands to reason that as a persons memory is going and they are going back to a time when they were younger their personality will change to a certain extent .(If a person is suffering from TIAS this can indeed change ones personality )some of us are dancers some of us accountants, artists ,actors ,pilots the list goes on some of us have extremely strong personalities and like to socialize and others prefer their own company .Dementia does not randomly pick out certain people its across the board people with extremely high intelligence and people with no social skills at all.
As the disease takes hold and it destroys their memories remember them as you knew them and what they like to do if the person was a dancer then dance, I passionately believe its about the person and not the disease so lets all sing in the rain for as long as we can.
Marina Barker
Dementia and aggresive behavior
Dementia and aggresive behavior
Dementia and aggression
There is a lot of advice out there for coping with aggressive behavior but anyone who has worked in the care system or is looking after someone with dementia knows it is easier said than done.
A client of mine 93 went for a days respite recently and was attacked so badly by another client she was left with stiches in in her arm she doesn't remember what happened but has since been wandering and walking with purpose meaning she is unable to settle ,the sad thing is the person who did this will not remember either and in a past life (before this horrible disease ) would be absolutely heartbroken about doing such a thing!
I Myself have been punched ,kicked had poo thrown in my face and bitten so badly I had to visit the hospital, on more than one occasion a very lovely lady would decide to throw all the library books at me because she couldn't get out of the dementia unit its hard to distract some one when your being bombarded by flying books.
but an hour later she would be back to her lovely smiley self with no knowledge of what had just taken place.
Someone I know was actually assisting a chap in the shower who turned round and knocked her out she was using red body wash at the time and he thought it was blood luckily assistance was at hand.
I looked after a lady who used to get picked up by bus every morning to visit a day center to get to the front door she had to pass a large mirror where she would stop and question who the hell that was in her house (her reflection)
she would get so angry and upset about this she would sometimes not get on the bus because she thought the person in the mirror was taking over her house .in the end I had the family remove the mirror as it was her trigger point.
The frustration of losing your capacity to think for yourself must be extremely frightening in the begging and then I guess the frustration sets in when you no longer know who you are, where you are or who anyone else is for that matter.
all we can do is our best .
When someone is being aggressive towards you verbally keep your voice low and calm speak slowly unfold your arms put your glasses on your head so they can see your eyes I don't know why but I have always find this helps
don't disagree with them if they say something happened to them it did say I'm sorry that happened what can i do to help shall we make some tea while we decide what to do this is deferring the situation and the chances are they will forget what the problem was while your making the tea.
Tips
make sure there not in pain if you can
soft lights and music
Soft cushions
A favorite blanket
lavender oils
go for a walk
Take deep breaths maybe leave the room for a few minutes until you a both calmer.
Physical aggression is of course much harder to deal with and I will leave that to the experts however try to get yourself away from the situation and call the emergency services it might be that there medication needs changing Marina Barker
DYSPHAGIA
Trouble swallowing
People with Dementia often have trouble with eating, drinking, and swallowing.
This normally occurs as the brain changes and basically, they forget how to do these things.
The risks that come with this problem are choking when your food goes down the wrong hole as I’m sure we have all experienced this at some stage in our lives we can appreciate how distressing and frightening this is.
It can also result in poor nutrition and a reduced quality of life.
The signs that someone may be suffering with Dysphagia
Coughing when eating
Wet gurgly voice during and or after eating
Difficulty chewing
Moving food to the back of mouth.
Suffering with chestiness or persistent chest infections.
Eating and drinking problems with Dementia
Forgetting to put food in the mouth
Chewing constantly but not swallowing
Leaving most of there food
They believe the food is poisoned
Spitting out food
Difficulty swallowing tablets
Saying the food is inedible
Food is not paid for
Overfilling mouth with too much food then choking
Having a companion eat with the person is often quite helpful
Create a happy relaxed atmosphere
Use contrasting colors so they can see food a person with dementia can often not see water in a glass so use a colorful tumbler
Don’t over fill plate as this can be distressing little and often is the key
Cut up grape’s strawberries any finger foods of their liking and leave in reaching distance.
However, bear in mind that a person’s taste will change as the journey of dementia progresses and you will probably find that even if they didn’t like cake, they will now want it the last thing you will be able to taste in dementia is sweet.
So, let’s eat cake.
You can find more information on the NHS website
Marina Barker
Dementia ,Lobotomy's and the Ice Pick
The term Dementia comes from the Latin roots demons meaning out of your mind
( without mind )
In Victorian asylums people were called lunatics ,demented ,Maniacs and lots of other names that we would not dreaming of using today.
The first Lobotomy was performed on the 17th January 1946 On a lady called Sallie Ellen Ionesco she was a house wife from Washington DC
When The Labotomy was invented there was no medication or cure for Dementia and it is said that people were desperate for some kind of treatment.
The powers that be said it was a great success in treating patients with depression schizophrenia, panic attacks and mania But according to research the side effects were horrific vomiting, bladder and bowel incontinence apathy lethargy eye problems eating disorders the list goes on.
But they still continued to treat people around the world.
WHAT IS LABOTOMY
The first lobotomy's involved cutting a hole in the persons skull and injecting ethanol into the brain to destroy the fibers that connect the frontal lobe to other parts of the brain.
An instrument was developed called Leucotome that had a retractable loop of wire when rotated this would cut a circle out of your head.
Lobotomy's became unpopular in the 1950s (Hardly surprising! )
There side effects became more well known it also became apparent that patients in asylums and prisoners being operated on without there consent.
One flew over the cuckoos nest comes to mind
Lobotomy's are very rarely if at all performed today.
If it is a much different operation is performed.
AND SO TO THE ICE PICK
An Italian named Ammaro Fiamberti developed the procedure in 1945 it involved accessing the frontal lobes through the eye sockets they used an instrument called a orbioclast a long slender instrument it was actually modelled on an ice pick they would then insert this through the persons eye socket using a hammer moving it from side to side to separate the frontal lobes from the part of the brain that receives and sends sensory input.
The last Labotomy was performed in 1967 on a lady called Hellen I cared for her for a while she was like a frightened mouse all the time terrified of her own shadow all I can say is thank god we have moved on!
Marina Barker
DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES
DLB
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the second most common type of Dementia the first being Alzheimer's.
It is commonly mistaken for Alzheimer's.
It is named after a German man who discovered the Disease his name was
Friedrich Heinrich Lewy
….
Tiny deposits of protein build up in the nerve cells of the brain.
researchers don't fully understand why this happens but it is linked to low levels of acetylcholine and dopamine and a loss of connections between nerve cells that then die.
Dementia with Lewy body and Parkinson's disease are just two of several diseases which effect the brain and nervous system over time.
LB in the base of the brain is linked to movement this is the main feature of Parkinson's!
LB in the outer layer of the brain is linked to problems with mental abilities
(cognitive symptoms) this is a feature of dementia with Lewy bodies .
A person with this diagnosis will have a progressive decline in mental abilities the average life expectancy is from 6-12 years from diagnosis
….
EARLY SIGNS
Tremors ,shaking fingers, thumb or chin
Loss of smell
Trouble sleeping
Dizziness ,fainting
Constipation
Trouble moving or walking
Low voice
Masked face
Not being able to stand properly
…..
SYMPTOMS
Shaking
Tremors
Hallucinations
These are often people and animals
The person will be convinced that what they are seeing is real and this can last for several minutes.
Hearing
Knocking ,footsteps conversations that are not happening.
A common delusion is that someone is out to get them.
Strangers living in the house they may think their husband, wife is an intruder.
This is extremely distressing for the carer.
Movement problems a bit like Parkinson's (slow and rigid)
Blank facial expression
The person may Yell out
Sleep disturbance
This is common and may start several years before being diagnosed
Incontinence
They may feel faint lose consciousness
Later stages
Aggression
Restlessness
Yelling out
Speech problems
Unable to walk properly leading to falls
Problems with swallowing
Chest infections
Risk of choking
Marina Barker
For more information visit NHS helpline
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DEMENTIA IN THE MIRROR
Whos that in the mirror that I see
is it you it cant be me ,
for she is old and I am young
The dance of Dementia has begun.
What is your name or should I know you say you knew me long ago.
Well long ago when I was me I had adventures by the sea ,
I was a a wife a friend a mother we used to chat to one another.
And now I sit here sipping tea with a wooly blanket on my knee.
My life is strange now I agree but sometimes I can still be me
Don't talk about me when I'm near please understand I live in fear
just hold my hand and speak to me now is it you it cant be me.
Marina Barker
ATAXIA
This is a group of disorders that effect speech and is usually caused by damage to the cerebellum but can also be by damage to the spinal cord this is a long bundle of nerves that runs down the spine it connects the brain to all the different parts of your body.
causes can be due to trauma, vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse, drugs, infections and cancers
there are several types of Ataxia
Aquired Ataxia
Genetic Ataxia
Idiopathic Ataxia
SYMPTOMS
slurring of speech
frequent falls
muscle tremors
vision problems
heart problems
slow eye movements
difficulty with writing, eating
wide based gate
poor coordination of arms and legs
balance and coordination will be affected first
HYPOTENSION
Low Blood Pressure
your blood pressure should be around 120/80mm
However it does fluctuate .
HYPOTENSION is when your blood pressure drops below 90/60mm
This can be caused by severe vomiting, Diarroea, sweating due to vigorous exercise .Problems with your heart because it cant pump the blood around your body ,Diseases such as Parkinson's , diabetes Age can also be a reason and infections
Symptoms
Dizziness
fainting
Blurred vision
feeling sick
Palpitations
unable to concentrate
feeling thirsty
confusion
depression
feeling cold
rapid shallow breathing
fatigue
sweating
Shock can cause your blood pressure to drop however low blood pressure can also send you into shock in this case they will need to raise your blood pressure by IV fluids.
When your blood pressure drops quickly it can lead to shock
This is an emergency situation and you need medical help immediately
While you are waiting for medical help elevate the persons legs off the floor with whatever is available to you and keep them warm.
You will have tests to see what is causing your blood pressure and medication will no doubt be given.
You can help yourself by eating a well balanced diet
avoiding alchohol
Drink plenty of water 2-3 litres a day
eat more salt
eat smaller portions several times a day helps your blood pressure from falling rapidly.
Marina Barker
SHADOWING
You may find that your loved one or the person you are caring for starts following you around constantly.
In the middle and later stages of the Dementia journey the person will start to feel a loss of who they are and be anxious about what is going on afraid of being left alone they are following you because they need to feel safe. they will ask you the same question every few minutes.
Try to reasure them that they are safe try to move the focus by doing little jobs together dusting ,peeling vegetables even folding towels .
It is extremely frustrating being followed around by someone constantly so remember to breath deeply and when ever you can have ten minutes to yourself.
Cadisil
This stands for
CEREBRAL AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT ARTERIOPATHY WITH SUBCORTICAL INFARCTS AND LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY
This is rare it is a type of vascular disease .This is a disease of the blood vessels as in arteries and veins
Cadisil is caused by a faulty gene When one of your parents carries the gene you have a 1 in 2 chance of developing Cadisil .
when a person has Cadisil they are likely to have several mild strokes which cause damage to the brain tissue mostly the white matter that connects different parts of the brain.
SYMPTOMS
migraines
slurred speech
weakness down one side of the body
may effect memory
visuospatial skills
lack of motivation
apathy
anxiety
depression \
At the moment there is no cure for Cadisil some of the symptoms can be managed
such as drugs for high blood pressure and cholesterol and making lifestyle changes.
Women may notice symptoms in pregnancy
About 2 in 3 people will go on to develop Dementia
More information is available on
Marina Barker
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
It is thought that this effects around 6 in every 100 people under 60 years old and 20 in every 100 people over 60 years old .
There are a lot of different symptoms
Tingling and numbness in limbs
Lack of coordination
Unsteadiness
Problems with vision
When the problems are not treated it can come across very much like Dementia
In some cases a limited diet of meat, eggs and dairy for example in vegans and vegetarians may result in insufficient B12
In some cases the body is unable to absorb B12 this is due to certain genetic conditions such as pernicious anemia or from taking medication such as metformin.
If treated early enough the symptoms of vitamin B12 can be reversed through supplements, injections and changes in diet.
The help line for Pernicious Anemia is 01656 769717
Marina Barker
POSTERIOR CORTICAL ATROPHY
This is a rare form of Dementia that begins by affecting your vision it is also called Bensons syndrome
It is caused by damage to the brain cells at the back of the brain .
The part that processes information from your eyes and makes sense of what you see.
Alzheimers disease is often the cause of brain cell damage in PCA but it can be caused by Dementia with Lewy bodies and in rare cases it can be caused by Corticobasal syndrome or Creutzfield-jacob disease.
Alzheimers disease normally affects your memory first PCA starts with your vision
normally this would develop between the ages of 50-65 how many people it affects around the world is not known.
Symptoms of PCA
Things appear to have unusual ,a client of mine complains that her brown walking stick is green and her hands are always turning red !
Objects are not recognisable and sometimes float around in front of you.
A puddle can look like a hole in the ground.
When you turn and walk away from an object you can sometimes still see it but then again you might not see things in front of you and walk straight in to them.
Trying to cross a road becomes problematic and not being able to recognise faces and object.
Can you imagine how stressful this must be.
Bright lights are often uncomfortable people with Dementia often sit in the dark with the curtains shut because they don't like the light.
Life expectancy with PCA is 8-12 years from diagnosis similar to Alzheimer's disease.
At the moment there are no specific treatments to stop or slow PCA but as with other types of dementia there are medicines to treat the symptoms they are called Cholinesterase inhibitors.
These medicines help the brain cells to communicate with each other.
Im sure most of you who know someone with Dementia will recognise these names
Donepezil
Rivastigmine
Galantamine
Memantine
These are the 4 Cholinesterase inhibitors
You can read up on PCA on Alzheimer's research uk
Marina Barker
Vascular Dementia
Vascular Dementia is a common form of Dementia caused by a reduced blood flow to the brain a mini stroke where the blood supply to the brain is blocked off or lots of mini strokes these are called transient ischaemic or TIAs attacks that cause widespread damage to the brain there is no cure for this as you cant replace the brain cells that have disappeared before the diagnosis but a medicines and a health life style may slow it down .
It is estimated there are 150.000 people affected in the UK.
SYMPTOMS
Difficulty making plans
Problems with concentration
Changes in behaviour
Feeling disorientated and confused
Difficulty walking and balance
Though there is no cure eating a healthy diet
Stopping smoking
Cutting down on alcohol
Taking medicines such as those to treat blood clots, high blood pressure and lowe cholesterol can help
DEMENTIA
THE BOOKCASE OF LIFE
Imagine you have a bookcase with several shelves
each shelf is packed with books and each book is a memory about your life it is about people you have met and places you have been memories happy or sad are in all these books.
the shelves are stages in your life starting at the bottom .
shelf number 1 bottom shelf
memories of when you were a child
shelf number 2
memories of your school ,college maybe even university.
shelf number 3
starting out in your chosen career.
shelf number 4
your first love ,getting married.
shelf number 5
having children.
shelf number 6
your children getting married and having children.
shelf number 7 top shelf
your retirement years .
Now imagine someone comes along and shakes the bookcase so hard that some of the books fall out .
Notice that more books fall out from the top shelves then they do from the bottom .
Not forgetting these books are your memories .
shelf number 7
the top shelf is almost empty
the shelf that holds your day today memories your memories of now !
so you cant remember who people are or where you are.
you are not familiar with your surroundings as you do not remember them .
shelf number 6
the shelf has a lot of books missing your memories of your children getting married of you becoming a grandparent .
so your not quite sure why they are there because who are they you do not know or remember them.
shelf number 5
you may have forgotten who your children are because the book of memories fell out of the bookcase .
shelf number 4
the book is missing from when you got married its gone it fell out ,the man in your house could be an intruder because you have no idea who he is.
shelf number 3
there a few books left here you clearly remember your days working at the bank and your achievements there and that you were there for 5 years .
but you don't know what you did after that because that book fell out .
Shelf number 2
there are books here and there on this shelf you can remember you went to college and that you studied accounts ,your school days and friends are still there but only sometimes because that book of memories is teetering on the edge of the shelf and is about to fall out.
shelf number 1
this shelf is almost full you remember your brothers and sisters and your parents and you spend all day wondering where they are and why there not looking for you
I REALLY HOPE THIS HELPS
MARINA
SUNDOWNING
Sundowning is also known as late-day confusion and is a form of Alzheimer's and other related forms of dementia .
Sundowning is not a disease but a group of symptoms effecting the person living with dementia.
This normally occurs late afternoon and carries on into the night .
the person will become confused and angry and it always seems to be as daylight fades and in the middle stages of dementia .
Some scientists believe that your body clock is affected by dementia and the part of your brain that recognizes when your asleep and when your awake breaks down.
These are a few things that might help
Avoid stimulant's
Alcohol
Coffee
Nicotine
Sweets and chocolate
Try to keep outings and appointments earlier in the day
Close the curtains and turn the lights out in the evening .
Make afternoons quite and calm .
Limit food intake in the evening to a snack rather than a hefty meal .
CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
Dementia pugilistica punch drunk syndrome
This is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries,
such as constant blows to the head and or repeated concussion .
this used to be called punch drunk syndrome or dementia pugilistica it is very common in boxers .
the disease usually begins several years after repeated blow to the head.
Symptoms
Changes in mood
Difficulty thinking (cognitive impairment )
Impulsive behavior
Short term memory loss
as the disease progresses ,slurred speech (dysarthria)
Significant memory loss
Parkinsonism symptoms
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
there is no cure
This diagnosis will be treated with pain management and behavioral therapy to help with mood swings ,difficulty planning and carrying out tasks which will affect daily living as in personal care ,social interaction and general wellbeing.
The seven stages of Dementia
The seven stages of Dementia
1
no impairment
everyone starts at stage 1 there are no symptoms of impairment and functions are normal
2
very mild cognitive decline
this can vary between age related problems that most seniors face such as forgetting things (dates,places ect.)
some of the signs of this stage
forgetting everyday phrases
forgetting things like where you put your keys .
3
mild cognitive decline
this is where symptoms for dementia or Alzheimer's can be come more apparent to family and friends
it will not have a big impact on everyday life
you may notice
problems with complex tasks
memory loss, forgetfulness
diminished work performance
getting lost
difficulty driving
disorganization
4
Moderate cognitive decline
This is sometimes described as early onset Dementia or Alzheimer's
Symptons are more noticeable and the person concerned should be seeing a health professional
Symptoms may include
Social withdrawal
Moodiness
Non responsive
Trouble with tasks
Denial
5
Moderately severe cognitive decline
The person concerned is now likely to need help with everyday tasks such as washing and dressing
you may need a home carer
Symptoms can include
Confusion
Forgetfulness
Memory loss i.e. personal details
Reduced mental ability for problem solving .
6
Severe cognitive decline
Also known as middle stage Dementia or Alzheimer's
The person concerned will now need help with daily activities such as using the bathroom or eating
Symptoms may include
Difficulty sleeping
Increased paranoia
Delusions
Anxiety
Difficulty recognizing loved ones
7
Very severe cognitive decline
Described as late stage Dementia or Alzheimer's
The person concerned is now unable to care for themselves
They may lose the power to walk or speak
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SEMANTIC DEMENTIA
In the past it was believed that all dementia was the same this is not so only recently has it been that distinct disorders such as Semantic Dementia it is related to frontotemporal dementia it is a progressive loss of the ability to remember words ,faces and objects this is from the shrinkage of the temporal lobe in the brain.
the problem usually starts with words people will forget the names of things like calling milk water a dog a cat they may also have problems understanding what is said.
people also have difficulty recognizing faces of the people they see all the time
they will find it hard to recognize objects.
people might become self centered not bothering about other peoples feelings becoming preoccupied with certain activities having a fixed routine daily .
the person cannot change there behavior as it is due to the damage that is effecting there brain cells.
people will normally stay physically well but may become slower as the disease progresses.
this condition normally happens to people between 50 and 65 years of age .there is no cure but certain medication can help with the symptoms.
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WATER INTOXICATION
Also known as water poisoning
This is a disruption to the brain caused by drinking to much water.
This is very rare and whilst it might be very difficult to consume to much water it does happen and death can occur due to excessive intake of fluid .
Drinking to much water can increase the amount of water in the blood this can dilute the electrolytes, and especially sodium in the blood.
WHEN SODIUM FALLS BELOW 135 MILLMOLES PER LITRE DOCTORS REF TO IT AS HYPONATREMIA
This is very common in sports people or endurance training but it does occur in people with mental health issues .
On one occasion because an athlete was not properly rehydrated ,his sodium levels fell below130mm0l/1 he then developed
water on the brain this is known as hydrocephalus .
developed a hernia in his brain stem and this lead to his death .
Overhydration happens when someone drinks more than there kidneys can get rid of via urine .
A build up of fluid in the brain is called cerebral edema which can effect the brain stem leading to central nervous disfunction .
In severe cases this can lead to seizures ,brain damage and comas .
SYMPTOMS
Confusion disorientation
Nausea
Vomiting
double vision
difficulty breathing
muscle cramps
not being able to identify sensory information
in rare circumstances swelling of the brain which can be fatal.